As we enter the next stage of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rotunda is looking forward and planning to return to “pre-COVID” access in a safe way for all our patients and their partners.
Throughout the pandemic, we have reviewed and risk assessed our COVID-19 safety measures each week, with the aim of restoring access as safely as possible and as soon as possible, while taking into account rates of COVID-19 infection in the community, vaccination rates amongst our patients, and our unique infrastructural challenges.
We have already restored access similar to pre-pandemic levels in most areas of the Hospital, including early pregnancy scans, anomaly scans, the Emergency and Assessment Unit, and our inpatient wards.
From Monday 25th October, partners will be able to attend Booking Visit appointments, and appointments in our High Risk clinic.
From Monday 1st November, we will also remove remaining restrictions for partners for other antenatal outpatient appointments.
However, it must be noted that many of our outpatient areas are in older buildings with very small waiting areas. In order to assist us in managing potential overcrowding in these outpatient waiting areas, we strongly encourage patients to please attend routine outpatient appointments alone, and only bring an accompanying partner for occasional visits, such as if you have a complicated or special issue to discuss with your care team. In times when there is high footfall, partners may be asked to wait outside the building until called to the consultation room.
It is important to remember that COVID-19 has not gone away and is in fact endemic within our community. COVID-19 infection is associated with severe maternal illness, particularly affecting women in the second half of pregnancy. Therefore, we strongly encourage all patients to avail of COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, and to talk to a midwife or doctor if you have any concerns about vaccination. The vaccine is safe in pregnancy, and is the best way to protect you and your baby against the very serious risks of COVID-19 infection.
If you, or your partner, have recently tested positive for COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, are a close contact of a COVID-positive case, or are waiting on the results of a COVID test, please do not come into the Hospital. Instead, telephone our COVID helpline on 01 817 2575 and we will make special arrangements for your care to keep you and others safe.
It is still essential that all patients and nominated companions must wear a face-covering, except when the woman is in labour. Visiting by children or by extended family members is still not possible. Only the nominated companion/partner will be allowed to attend.
The Rotunda Hospital Executive Management Team must continually respond to changes in COVID-19 risk status, and therefore may need to change these Hospital access conditions at any time, based on COVID-19 infection rates, episodes of overcrowding, or with other infectious disease outbreaks.
Thank you for working with us in helping to keep you, all our patients and staff safe.